Explore the beauty of Greece, and don’t forget to book travel insurance so you can kick back, relax and enjoy your break

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Do I need travel insurance to go to Greece?

Greece is a beautiful place and a popular holiday destination for many Brits, but its location in Europe might lead some holidaymakers to believe that travel insurance isn’t a necessity. However it is still an important part of your holiday booking, especially if the UK carries through on leaving the European Union.

A good travel insurance policy will protect you in case you fall ill, have an accident, lose your belongings or become the victim of a crime during your Greek holiday.

In addition, travel insurance will cover you in the event that you have to cancel or cut your trip short, preventing you from losing all the money you’ve spent on it. Knowing you’re protected for all these possibilities will help you fully relax and get excited about your break away.

What should my travel insurance policy for Greece include?

A good travel insurance policy for Greece should include the following:

Cover for medical expenses, up to a limit of at least £5m

Cover for repatriation to the UK, should this be necessary

Cover for emergency cancellation or curtailment to your holiday

Delay and missed departure cover – in case events out of your control (such as extreme weather) cause you to miss your plane

Travel abandonment cover. An unusual occurrence, travel abandonment is when you give up trying to get to your holiday destination because the journey has become impossible for some reason

Cover for lost and stolen baggage

Cover for the loss or theft of your passport. This may not come as standard, but it’s probably worth adding

Personal liability cover. This protects you in case something you do injures a third party, causes the loss of their possessions or destroys something that belongs to them

According to data provided by Insuratrip, collected between 2015 and 2018

Travel insurance for Greece: exclusions and what to watch out for

Travel insurance is a valuable safety net, but as with all forms of insurance there are certain things it won’t cover.

Most travel insurance policies exclude the following:

Cover for an illness or injury that arises from a pre-existing medical condition. This is any condition that’s already diagnosed, or whose symptoms were discussed with a doctor, prior to taking out the policy. If you’re in this situation, you may have to take out a special policy

Cover for unexpected incidents such as terrorism or war, civil unrest or natural disasters

Cover for any accident, illness or injury that arises as a result of intoxication

Cover in any location that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has advised British tourists not to visit

Cover for accidents or injuries that occur during sporting activities such as skiing, scuba diving and paragliding. If you plan on taking part in these types of activities, get specialist cover

According to data provided by Insuratrip, collected between 2015 and 2018

What excess shall I choose for my travel insurance?

Make sure you check the excess on your travel insurance policy before you buy it. A higher excess might make your premium cheaper, but this is the sum you will have to fork out before your insurer will pay any claim you make – so it has to be affordable.

What date should I start my travel insurance policy?

Don’t delay the beginning of your travel insurance policy until the day you are due to go away. If you do and if for any reason you are forced to cancel the trip you have planned, you won’t be covered for the cancellation and could end up seriously out of pocket.

According to data provided by Insuratrip, collected between 2015 and 2018

Will an EHIC cover me in Greece?

As Greece is part of the EU, an EHIC holder will be covered in Greece. The EHIC scheme provides EU visitors to participating countries access to the same healthcare that citizens of those countries would expect to receive for free or at a subsidised cost.

However, as it stands, the EHIC card will only work for UK citizens until 31 October 2019 at the latest – which is the date currently set for Britain to leave the EU.

If you are concerned about whether your EHIC card will work after the UK leaves the EU, remember a standard travel insurance policy will cover you for any medical costs included in your policy.

An EHIC does not cover the cost of repatriating you to your home country. It also doesn’t cover the expenses of a friend or family member who had to stay in Greece to care for you during an illness, and of course provides no protection in the event of other emergencies, such as your possessions being lost or stolen.

Top travel tips for Greece

Greece is a beautiful country, and these simple tips will help you make the most of your time there.

Carry cash: Many places in Greece won’t accept debit or credit cards, so it’s best to have a healthy supply of travel money if you plan on spending.

Enjoy the views: When you’re travelling around Greece, make sure you stop along the way to enjoy the stunning landscape. It’s often the most unassuming and sleepy villages that will deliver the most unexpected views.

Plan ahead if you require accessibility: If you or one of your party has mobility issues, you will need to plan in advance for your trip to Greece. Because so many of the buildings have a rich history, it often means things like ramps are scarce, although investments are being made to improve this aspect.

Watch your valuables: In Athens, as in any large city, it’s sensible to keep an eye on your belongings, particularly if you are travelling on the Metro.

Watch out when driving: If you plan on driving when you get to Greece, you should know that it’s quite different to the UK. Local drivers will often ignore certain rules of the road, and speed limits are lesser spotted. Take extra care and expect the unexpected.

Embrace Greek time: Don’t expect things to be punctual in Greece; life is much more relaxed. The best thing to do is chill out and enjoy the slower pace.

Watch out for shop opening hours: The operating hours for shops in Greece are not like the UK. Shops are generally open from 9am to 3pm and then from 5pm to 9pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and from 9am to 5pm on Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays.

Support local: If you stick to an all-inclusive holiday, a lot of the money you spend will not stay in Greece. If you eat at independent restaurants, and stay at an independent hotel or villa, you’ll be supporting the locals and getting a better taste of the culture.

Don’t flush toilet paper: A lot of the waste pipes in Greece are very old, narrow and can become blocked easily. Places that have this issue will generally display a sign asking you not to flush the paper.

Explore the mainland: Like a lot of holiday destinations, there are certain locations that will be teeming with tourists. However, if you venture into the mainland you’ll come across lots of places that are worth visiting that are much less busy. And don’t worry if you get lost, it’s all part of the fun.

Remember the tourism police: If you run into any issues when you are visiting Greece, the tourism police should be able to help. They speak many languages and can be contacted by calling 171 from anywhere in Greece.

Compare travel insurance policies before you buy

The price of a travel insurance policy varies. Different companies will sell the same level of cover for the same country at completely different prices, so it’s important to compare before you buy.

MoneySuperMarket’s comparison tool asks you a few simple questions about you and your holiday: where you are going, how long for and what you want your policy to cover, and in just a couple of minutes you can compare prices from a range of leading travel insurers.